About French Cottage Holidays

Mountains, river valleys, cosy cottages and good food and wine. The Lot valley in this area has so much to offer and we want you to experience it to the full. French Cottage Holidays is now under new management after being successfully run by the previous owners for over 15 years. We are a small agency, specializing in this geographical area and aiming to give you a personal service from the moment you enquire, right through to the last moment of your stay.

With over 20 properties to choose from, most with private pools and many with dramatic views, we can accommodate from 2 to 15 guests. Some larger properties have discounted rates for lower occupancy outside of peak season. All are furnished to a high standard and our all-inclusive prices cover bed linen, towels, pool towels and local taxes.

Our website has been designed to show you as much as possible of the houses and the area and we have included practical information to help you plan your trip. It is our showcase and we are always looking for ways to improve it so that we can bring this stunning area and all it has to offer right into your living room!

We look forward to welcoming you to this lesser known part of France – see you soon!

Tina, Penny and the French Cottage Holidays Team.

Meet the Team

Penny Bailie

Reservations and Marketing

I started working for French Country Holidays managing Marketing internationally and reservations for the French market in 2010. Having known the previous owners of the company then known as French Cottage Retreats since 1981 and also living in the area, I was delighted to have the opportunity to become part of the business.

A double language honours graduate from Kings College London, I began my career at a Marketing Agency and from here moved on and up specializing in Marketing communications for software companies. In 1996 I became Freelance and worked as a Marketing consultant for groups such as Cable & Wireless , Telewest and Deutsche Telecom. After getting married and starting a family whilst working part time for my husband who is in the film industry, we moved to Southwest France. Once settled into life there and having renovated our house, I decided to employ my skills to help expats who needed assistance with living in France, which was very rewarding. When invited to join French Cottage Holidays it was a fantastic opportunity for me to help expand the company into the European market.

Tina Jacquet

General Manager (France)

I started working for French Cottage Holidays in 2011, taking on a general management role in 2013. As the business came up for sale in 2015 I took the opportunity to take it over and am looking forward to growing the business and continuing to offer wonderful holidays to out guests new and old!

I was born and brought up in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. After attending Tonbridge grammar school, I studied politics at Exeter University before pursuing a 20 year career with the NHS in customer service, supply and logistics, working in various hospitals in the south of England. In keeping with the fashion in the late ’80’s, I bought a house in the North of France, near Le Touquet, which I sold 7 years later in favour of a barn in the sunny Charente.

Redundancy was the opportunity to make a permanent move there in 2001, when I married a Frenchman, studied agriculture and spent 8 years farming cereals, sheep and rabbits. Changing circumstances led to my discovering the irresistible Cantal in 2009.

Fluent in French, I manage the company’s administration and I now have responsibility for the day to day running of the holiday cottages to ensure that guests of all nationalities have an enjoyable stay in an area of France that I would find hard to leave!

What our guests say

“We have been through the company before and I am sure we will again. We love the Lot Valley and all the villas have been great. I have been with Owner’s Direct elsewhere, but will always use yourselves when I can because the personal touch really helps and counts when there is a problem. We really did appreciate your prompt communication and helping us stay in another property.” (S.W. UK)

“I am a huge fan of French Cottage Holidays and think you do an amazing job. Please keep it up and no doubt will be in touch again again in the future.” (M.A. UK)